Astronomy
Guide for Section 30.1 – The Earth’s Moon
Name _______________________________
Period _________
Introduction
1. Is there gravity on the moon? _________ Why? ______________________________________
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2. Compare the moon’s gravity to earth’s. ______________________________________________
ABOUT how much would you weigh on the moon (in pounds) _____________________________
3. Why does the moon have no atmosphere? ____________________________________________
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4. What are the temperatures like on the moon? _________________________________________
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5. Why the big differences in temperature? _____________________________________________
The Lunar Surface
6. Describe the “Maria” part of the moon’s surface ______________________________________
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7. Describe the “Highlands” ________________________________________________________
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Craters
8. What is the cause of all the craters? _________________________________________________
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9. Why not as many craters on Earth? _________________________________________________
Lunar Rocks
10. What is “Regolith”? ____________________________________________________________
How did it form? __________________________________________________________________
11. Read the description of the rocks on the lunar surface. How are the highland rocks different
from the rocks in the maria? _________________________________________________________
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Why are they different? [read again how the maria formed - p. 616] _________________________
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[There is a sample of “anorthosite” in the front of the room – similar to highland rock.]
Interior of the Moon
12. How do we know anything about the interior of the moon? _____________________________
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13. Does the moon have a magnetic field? ________________ What does this suggest about the
core of the moon? ________________________________________________________________
Development of the Moon
14. Describe the “giant-impact hypothesis” for the first stage in the development of the moon:
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15. Describe the next three stages in the development of the moon:
2nd stage: _______________________________________________________________________
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3rd stage: ________________________________________________________________________
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4th stage (most recent): _____________________________________________________________
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